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HBO and NFL Films have had some difficulty finding teams that would welcome the constant video surveillance needed to produce Hard Knocks. The Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals have agreed in the 11th hour over the past two years to accept, allowing the show to continue -- which most people are grateful for because of the in-depth look at a professional football team that people would otherwise never see.
Now the NFL is going to mandate it for someone if there are no volunteers.
The league passed a proposal at the league owners meetings on Tuesday that would "compel" teams to do Hard Knocks if there are no volunteers. The only exclusions are teams with new head coaches or that have been in the playoffs for two consecutive seasons.
NFL hopes to have Hard Knocks volunteers. If there are none, they've now guaranteed Hard Knocks every year.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 8, 2013
Proposal to compel teams to do Hard Knocks passed (if no volunteers), source said. Wouldn't apply to teams with new coaches or in playoffs
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 8, 2013